The Staffing Stream: Janine Chidlow discusses skills-first hiring

To better navigate skills shortages in the UK, organisations need to start shifting towards a skills-first hiring approach according to Janine Chidlow, managing director at WilsonHCG. 

In an article she wrote on The Staffing Stream, Chidlow analyzed the latest data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics which revealed the level of economic inactivity of 16-to-24-year-olds surpassed half a million between November 2023 and January 2024. 

“This is of huge concern for employers and recruiters across the UK that are grappling with the scarcity of talent, especially across STEM skills,” she explained. 

That’s why adopting a skills-first hiring approach – hiring people based on skills rather than qualifications or previous employment history – needs to be a priority. 

Doing so helps widen the talent pool, enables more equitable hiring practices and cultivates a more diverse and productive workforce. 

You can read the full article on The Staffing Stream's website.